As we brace ourselves for yet another round of temperatures in the upper 90s in Flint, you're probably spending a lot more time inside. But how cool do you keep your home when it heats up outside?

Where you set your thermostat can have a significant impact on your wallet.

Experts say you can save up to three percent on your energy bill for each degree above 72 you set your thermostat. That's a savings of 18% if you can dial up from 72 to 78 degrees.

Raise the thermostat to 85 degrees when no one is home.

If you use ceiling fans, be sure they're rotating counterclockwise, as you look up at them. This blows cool air downward, and allows your air conditioner to run less. (In the winter, reverse the direction of ceiling fans. When they turn clockwise, cooler air is pulled up near the ceiling, forcing warmer air out toward walls and down.)

Consumers Energy also recommends making sure your air conditioning unit is free from obstructions like leaves and debris. Change your furnace filter regularly, to relieve strain on heating and cooling systems.

So where do you set your thermostat in summer months? We've learned to live with 78 degrees, because it takes the edge off, and still presents quite a contrast when the outside temperature is above 90 degrees.

 

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